~Alaric~
She dozed off to sleep as I held her as close as I could to my body. She was depleted and all that magic drained her, I just hope it wasn't too much. I caressed her head feeling guilty. I really hope I didn't overload her, and this is my fault. I kissed her forehead as she slept but Bax was restless pacing in my mind wanting to get out.
"Claiming mate will keep her safe" he grumbled.
"She isn't ready, don't you think I want her too!" I huffed back at him "bond weak, safer together, stronger together" I sighed and took some deep breaths and got a good dose of her intoxicating scent. "We have time to woo her, don't worry..."
I sent to him and that calmed him enough to retreat to the back of my mind and it had a similar effect on me as well, but I squeezed her just a bit closer to me and drifted off to sleep with the sweet smell of honey wrapping me in a cocoon.
I roused to someone scratching at my mind. I opened my eyes, looked at my mate, and smiled at her peaceful face then frowned at the person scratching at my mind.
"I hope this doesn't involve me getting out of bed..." he laughed.
"Not at this very moment but soon I would like to run some test and she needs to be awake. " I sighed knowing I must wake this woman sleeping peacefully.
"One more hour than I will wake her up." He didn't say anything for a moment, but I felt him lingering.
"What is it? " His tension was tangible.
"I don't mean to pry Alpha, but who is she?" I chuckled a bit.
"Relax B, she is my mate, why so nervous to ask?" He hesitated slightly.
"I thought she might be, but she isn't marked and in my field of work I know it make a grumpy male " he chuckled, and I smiled a bit.
"I have more pressing issues, like why my mate is in the state she is in and who will be paying for it..." he hummed thoughtfully.
"All in due time Al, try to focus on the now and making her stronger, one hour!"
I laughed and closed the link with him and linked another wolf to bring breakfast to the hospital room. I looked around seeing my parents had left. I appreciated the sentiment that they stayed as long as they did but they needed to rest, they still had a pack to run. I contemplated what to do for the next hour while she slept. A shower sounded nice, but I didn't want to leave her side unless I really had to. Going back to sleep was out the question my mind was too awake now. I smiled knowing what I was going to do.
"Hey Gabe, I just want you to know I have very high expectations from my Beta when I take over" He chuckled back.
"At this rate I'll be an elder before a beta, aren't you already 30?" I laughed though the link.
"Please to not spread that rumor, then the elders will pressure me to choose someone..." I felt his guilt through the link.
"Sorry Al, I didn't mean to make the mood sour." I chuckled.
"You didn't, come down to the hospital around lunch time I have something important I want to show you" I pushed through the link to my other friend hunter "Al its early and you know I hate mornings" I smirked.
"You and Gabe come to the hospital around lunch, it's important ok..." they didn't have to say anything, I felt their agreement through the link and then I closed them off and watched my beautiful mate sleep for a while longer.
~Azaria~
My senses were filled with the scent of vanilla, and I felt at peace. There was pressure surrounding me and I blinked my eyes open to see my cheek on a firm pec muscle and the shirt was cold like it was wet. My eyes went big, and I looked at his shirt to see a wet spot there where I had my head laid. I can't believe I drooled on his shirt...how embarrassing!
" Good morning beautiful."
His husky voice brough me out my thought, his hand moving some hair from my face and taking my chin gently. He tilted my chin up to look at him and my worries melted away looking at how happy he seemed to be just because I was there. I couldn't help but smile up at him and I looked at his lips and how wonderful they tasted, and like a perfect distraction, my stomach growled pulling me out of my thought. The smell of food finally dawned on me, and I heard my mate's warm laughter.
" let's eat, the doctor will be in soon to check on you. "
he nodded toward the food on the table. A big omelet with green peppers, mushrooms, spinach, topped with diced avocado, a pitcher of orange juice, and two glasses adorned the table. He picked up the fork and proceeded to feed me. I went to protest and first, but he gave me sad puppy dog eyes and I couldn't say no. In between bites he fed himself. We made it about two thirds of the way through the omelet before I was full and her a light knock on the door.
" Come on in"
Alaric said still in bed next to me, I drank some juice while he finished off the omelet.
"Good morning! you're looking in much better shape than what you did when you first came in." He took down some notes on a clipboard in his hand and spoke again.
"I'd like to run a few tests to check your overall health and if you have any concerns, we can address those as well" I nodded and cleared my throat to get his attention.
"Will you be trying to collect blood?" He looked confused.
" Yes, I will only use it to run tests to measure your health, we destroy all samples immediately after testing and results which I do right in the other room down the hall" I nodded.
" You can try but it's never worked before, usually my magic flares up and I can't control it and it protects me" He nodded.
" Well, if your fine with it we can give it a try and if we can't get a blood sample, I will have to put you on a general diet, which I rather not do because a tailored diet will have you healthier faster."
He took some more notes on the clip board, and I looked over to Alaric who seemed zeroed in on the doctor, but the doctor didn't seem bothered by him now. I put my hand on his and squeezed, he seemed to come out of a daze, but he placed a kiss on my forehead and smiled at me and scooted closer hugging me to his body his gaze returning to the doctor. Was he mad at him or something?
" Ok then I will send in Bella, she volunteers here but she is an amazing nurse and will get the test done for you, Alpha, may have a word outside?"
Alaric nodded and started getting up "I'll be right back don't move" he quickly kissed my lips and went with the doctor outside the door.